Spain vs Malta 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying match
Encyclopedia
The Spain vs Malta 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying match was one of the most important matches ever played by the Spain national team
. It was the last qualifying match for the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship
.
defeated Malta
5–0, and the Dutch team finished their qualification schedule with 13 points and a +16 goal difference. Previously, the aggregate score between Spain and the Netherlands was 2–2 and, by the tie-break rules, if Spain would obtain 13 points, the goal difference would decide the qualified team.
by 11 or more goals.
Nobody thought that with a 3–1 score at the half time Spain
would win the match by 12–1, but the second half of the match showed that it was not impossible. Ironically, Juan Antonio Señor
scored the last goal after having missed a penalty in the 2nd minute of the game. Rafael Gordillo
scored a 13th goal in the waning minutes of the game but it was disallowed. The match was broadcasted by RTVE
for the entire country. Many people say that the Maltese were payed to not do their best and let Spain win by a large amount, and it was rumoured that words had been exchanged between Maltese and Spanish officials and players at half time.
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MALTA:
|
GK
1
John Bonello
DF
3
Azzopardi
DF
2
E. Farrugia
DF
5
John Holland
DF
6
Buttigieg
DF
10
Emanuel Fabri
MF
11
Michael Degiorgio
MF
9
Ernest Spiteri Gonzi
MF
8
Ray Farrugia
FW
4
Tortell
FW
7
Silvio Demanuele
Substitutions:
DF
14
Mario Farrugia
Manager:
Victor Scerri
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
. It was the last qualifying match for the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship
1984 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1984 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in France. West Germany also bid for the hosting of this event. It was the seventh European Football Championship, held every four years and endorsed by UEFA...
.
Background
Four days before the game, the NetherlandsNetherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
defeated Malta
Malta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
5–0, and the Dutch team finished their qualification schedule with 13 points and a +16 goal difference. Previously, the aggregate score between Spain and the Netherlands was 2–2 and, by the tie-break rules, if Spain would obtain 13 points, the goal difference would decide the qualified team.
Table before the match
After December 17, the group 7 table was the follow:| Pos. | Team | Points | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Dif. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  NetherlandsNetherlands national football team The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands... |
13 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 |
| 2 |  SpainSpain national football team The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque... |
11 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 |
| 3 |  Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010.... |
9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 10 | +10 |
| 4 |  IcelandIceland national football team The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.... |
3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 13 | –10 |
| 5 | Malta Malta national football team The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in... |
2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 25 | –21 |
Match report
The only Spanish chance at qualifying was to defeat MaltaMalta national football team
The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in...
by 11 or more goals.
Nobody thought that with a 3–1 score at the half time Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
would win the match by 12–1, but the second half of the match showed that it was not impossible. Ironically, Juan Antonio Señor
Juan Antonio Señor
Juan Antonio Señor Gómez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central midfielder.During his professional career, he played mainly for Zaragoza, amassing nearly 400 official appearances in nine years...
scored the last goal after having missed a penalty in the 2nd minute of the game. Rafael Gordillo
Rafael Gordillo
Rafael Gordillo Vázquez is a retired Spanish footballer.A tremendously offensive left wingback, equally at ease as defender and midfielder and with a good effort rate, he had an unmistakable style of playing with his socks down, he represented with individual and team success Betis and Real...
scored a 13th goal in the waning minutes of the game but it was disallowed. The match was broadcasted by RTVE
RTVE
The Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española, S.A. or Corporación Radiotelevisión Española is the state-owned public corporation that assumed the indirect management of the Spanish public radio and television service from Ente Público Radiotelevisión Española in 2007...
for the entire country. Many people say that the Maltese were payed to not do their best and let Spain win by a large amount, and it was rumoured that words had been exchanged between Maltese and Spanish officials and players at half time.
| style="font-size: 95%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> |  SPAIN: |
|||
| GK | 1 | Francisco Buyo Francisco Buyo Francisco 'Paco' Buyo Sánchez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.Best known for his Sevilla and Real Madrid spells, he appeared in 542 La Liga matches, third all-time highest, winning 12 major titles with the latter club.A Spanish international during roughly one decade,... |
||
| DF | 5 | Andoni Goikoetxea Andoni Goikoetxea Andoni Goikoetxea is the name of:*Andoni Goikoetxea Olaskoaga , former Spanish football defender, mainly with Athletic Bilbao*Ion Andoni Goikoetxea Lasa , former Spanish football midfielder, mainly with FC Barcelona... |
||
| DF | 3 | José Antonio Camacho José Antonio Camacho José Antonio Camacho Alfaro is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left defender, and the current coach of the China PR national football team.... |
||
| DF | 4 | Antonio Maceda Antonio Maceda Antonio Maceda Francés is a retired Spanish footballer.Though a central defender by trade, he was known for his timely and predatorial goal-scoring in addition to his superb aerial ability.... |
||
| DF | 2 | Juan Antonio Señor Juan Antonio Señor Juan Antonio Señor Gómez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a central midfielder.During his professional career, he played mainly for Zaragoza, amassing nearly 400 official appearances in nine years... |
||
| MF | 8 | Víctor Muñoz | ||
| MF | 6 | Rafael Gordillo Rafael Gordillo Rafael Gordillo Vázquez is a retired Spanish footballer.A tremendously offensive left wingback, equally at ease as defender and midfielder and with a good effort rate, he had an unmistakable style of playing with his socks down, he represented with individual and team success Betis and Real... |
||
| MF | 10 | Manuel Sarabia Manuel Sarabia Manuel Sarabia López is a former Spanish footballer, who played as a left-footed striker.-Club career:... |
||
| FW | 7 | Francisco José Carrasco Francisco José Carrasco Francisco José Carrasco Hidalgo is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a winger, and currently a coach.-Club career:... |
||
| FW | 9 | Santillana | ||
| FW | 11 | Hipólito Rincón Hipólito Rincón Hipólito 'Poli' Rincón Povedano is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.During a 12-year professional career, he played mainly for and Real Madrid and Real Betis, amassing La Liga totals of 239 games and 81 goals.Having gained slightly more than 20 caps for Spain, Rincón appeared... |
||
| Substitutions: | ||||
| FW | 16 | Marcos Alonso | ||
| Manager: | ||||
| Miguel Muñoz Miguel Muñoz Miguel Muñoz Mozún was a Spanish football player and manager.A midfielder, he spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid before going on to coach the club, where he was considered one of the most successful managers in its history, leading the team to two European Cup victories and nine La... |
||||
MALTA:
Emanuel Fabri
Emanuel "Leli" Fabri is a retired football midfielder from the Malta.-Playing career:During his club career, Fabri played for Luqa St. Andrew's, Qormi and Sliema Wanderers. He also played for the Malta national football team, scoring 3 times.-External links:* *...
Michael Degiorgio
Michael Degiorgio was a professional footballer. He played as a defender or midfielder for Ħamrun Spartans, Naxxar Lions, Lija Athletic and Marsaxlokk.-External links:* *...
Ernest Spiteri Gonzi
Ernest Spiteri-Gonzi is a retired football striker.-Club career:During his club career, Spiteri-Gonzi played for Hibernians. He twice became Maltese top goalscorer, in the 1980/81 and 1981/82 seasons...
Ray Farrugia
Raymond 'Zazu' Farrugia is a football coach and former player. He is currently manager of the Malta national under-21 football team.-References:...
Mario Farrugia
Mario Farrugia was a professional footballer, during his career he played for Żurrieq, where he played as a defender....
Victor ScerriFinal table
| Pos. | Team | Points | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Dif. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain Spain national football team The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque... (Q) |
13 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 8 | +16 |
| 2 | Netherlands Netherlands national football team The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands... |
13 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 6 | +16 |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland national football team The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010.... |
9 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 10 | +10 |
| 4 | Iceland Iceland national football team The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition.... |
3 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 13 | –10 |
| 5 | Malta Malta national football team The Malta national football team is the national football team of Malta and is controlled by the Malta Football Association. Malta played its first international game in February 1957, and began competing for qualification to major tournaments in 1962. The side's first competitive victory came in... |
2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 37 | –32 |
Records
- It was the second biggest win in SpainSpain national football teamThe Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
history (the best, 13–0 against BulgariaBulgaria national football teamThe FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, 1933). - In the second half, SpainSpain national football teamThe Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
scored 0.2 goals per minute. - The four goals scored by Santillana put him as the top goalscorer in Group 7UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying Group 7Standings and results for Group 7 of the 1984 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying tournament.Group 7 consisted of Iceland, Malta, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Spain...
.